Fallon Barrett, Assistant Project Manager
General Services Department, Design and Construction-Minor Projects In-House Design

Through her work with different organizations and countless volunteer hours, Fallon has become a driving force connecting people, building opportunities and enriching our city.

As a member of the Houston Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, Fallon has worked tirelessly to open doors for the next generation. She chaired the chapter’s 20th Anniversary Gala, raising more than $60,000 in scholarships.

Her leadership earned her HNOMA’s 2025 Member of the Year award.

Fallon’s advocacy extends to the classroom. Through the American Institute of Architects Houston’s Kids+Architecture Committee and the Texas Society of Architects, she has helped expose nearly 100 students to careers in architecture.

Her service doesn’t stop there. Through the Top Ladies of Distinction and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., she mentors young women, coordinates community service and builds partnerships that bring real resources to those who need them most.

As a City of Houston employee, Fallon brings her spirit of service to work, delivering projects on time, on budget and with care.

She is an architect of community in every sense of the word.

Thank you, Fallon Barrett.

Sharon Blacklock, Division Manager
Municipal Courts Department, Judicial Operations

With a heart for community, Sharon has spent more than two decades proving that one person, driven by genuine compassion, can transform a community.

At work with Municipal Courts, Sharon leads with empathy and professionalism, earning the trust of both colleagues and residents. She steps in wherever she is needed and ensures every person is treated with dignity and respect.

But it is her volunteer work that truly speaks to the depth of her character.

Sharon has mentored youth through the Dare to Dream Foundation, led young people for 26 years as Youth Director at Crestmont Park Church of Christ, supported seniors through the Seasoned Saints Ministry, and served as vice president of Houston Area Youth for Christ.

She has also opened her home to infants in need, giving them stability during the most vulnerable years of their lives.

Her ability to build partnerships that stretch limited resources further than most would think possible has allowed her to coordinate city youth programs and an annual toy drive that now reaches more than 70 children.

Sharon does not wait to be asked; she shows up, rolls up her sleeves and gets to work.

Thank you, Sharon Blacklock.

Erica Courtenay-Mann, Systems Accountant III
Houston Airport System, Accounts Receivable

For Erica, changing lives means building bridges. With more than 5,000 volunteer hours across different organizations, she has spent years building partnerships, opening doors and creating opportunities for young people and communities in Houston.

As a Girl Scout troop leader since 2016, Erica has guided her scouts to earn their highest awards while tackling real community challenges, from supporting pet adoption to building free language resources for children who lack access to foreign language education in their schools.

Through the National Charity League, she engineered a historic partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Houston, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and the City of Houston Airport System, resulting in the largest book drive in the chapter’s history, which also allowed them to place more than 100 books in the hands of young travelers at both Bush Intercontinental and Houston Hobby airports.

Through Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Erica has championed youth mentorship, social justice advocacy, and scholarship access for students in need.

Erica brings that same energy to work every day, always finding ways to improve, assist and help others succeed.

Erica does not just participate; she gives her everything.

Thank you, Erica Courtenay-Mann.

Ryan Prillman, Community Outreach Coordinator
Houston Public Works, Engineering and Construction

Ryan has built a career and a life around a single belief: that everyone deserves access to opportunity, and that it takes intentional, sustained effort to make that a reality.

As vice chairman of the board for PrimeWay Federal Credit Union, Ryan helps govern a financial institution serving more than 50,000 members, championing the Low-Income Designation that has expanded affordable financial products to underserved Houston families.

As a Selective Service local board chairman, he has served his country with integrity and civic commitment for more than a decade.

Ryan’s community reach goes further still, assembling hygiene kits for women’s shelter residents, delivering toys to Houston families during the holidays, and helping build neighborhood connections through local events.

Ryan shows the same dedication in his professional role, serving as a trusted community liaison, producing drone video content that makes complex infrastructure projects visually comprehensible to the public, and spearheading the Community Connect initiative to bring city engagement directly to residents’ doorsteps.

Ryan does not wait for the community to come to him — he goes to the community, and he makes it stronger every time he does.

Thank you, Ryan Prillman.

Jose Soto, Staff Analyst
Municipal Courts Department, Public Information Office

Jose made a promise when he learned he was going to be a father – that his son would be involved in Scouts because of how that experience can shape and mold young people. That promise became a calling, and that calling has touched the lives of hundreds of young people across Houston.

As Cubmaster of Pack 926, Jose has built a program rooted in character, citizenship and community.

Under his leadership, Scouts have honored veterans at Houston National Cemetery, commemorated Holocaust victims in Kingwood, cleaned school gardens, and collected canned goods for neighbors in need.

In 2025, he directed one of the largest Flaming Arrow District Twilight Camps, a three-day experience that none of those children will forget.

At the City of Houston, Jose has helped his department earn eight Municipal Traffic Safety Initiative Awards by educating the public about the dangers of distracted and impaired driving.

By leading interactive court tours, he educates and connects young people to the justice system in a way that is engaging and meaningful.

Whether he is leading Scouts through the woods, coordinating a court tour or planning a community awareness event, Jose shows up with purpose, patience and an unshakeable belief that investing in young people is the most important work there is.

Thank you, Jose Soto.

Celia Valles, Council Scheduler 
City Council Office, District H

Celia did not choose a life of service — she was raised into it. And for more than 35 years, she has honored that calling with a consistency and depth that is truly remarkable.

Through the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, she has championed Latino civil rights and civic empowerment at the local and state level.

Through Hispanic Women in Leadership, she has mentored and elevated Latina professionals across Houston.

Through her church, her neighborhood and a dozen other organizations ‑‑ from the Houston Astros Foundation to Crime Stoppers to the Houston Botanical Garden ‑‑ she has shown up, year after year, as a connector, an advocate, and a trusted voice for our community.

Her work earned her a Lifetime Achievement Award through AmeriCorps, one of the highest honors a volunteer can receive.

With the same dedication and professionalism in her role at the City of Houston, Celia ensures residents feel heard, respected, and connected to the services they need.

She does not just serve her community, she strengthens it one relationship at a time.

Thank you, Celia Valles.